Wichita eagle., 1887-06-16
ABOUT ALUMINIUM.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF ITS
REMARKABLE PROPERTIES.

| As Malleable as Gold or Silver and More
| Durable-Its Value in the Age of Elec-
tricity-Resistancet to Corrosion-Strong-
| er Than Steel.
| OF course the reader readily understands
| that aluminium does not occur in nature in a
metallic form, and the great secret is to iso-
| late it from the substances with which it ap-
pears andfeduce it to the metallic state. The
word means the metal of clay. As fact,
however, clay soil comes from the metal base,
not the metal from tie soil. Combined. with
oxygen, in one form or another, it forms
mountain masses and is the base Of vast
| amount of common earths By the action of
cir and water the aluminium compound is de-
composed, the alkaH washed away and clay
soil is left. We have then to consider the sur
face of the tillable earth as very largely the
result Of the decomposition of this metal,
leaving a porous substance, which we culti-
vate and in which we grow our vegetable pro-
ducts. The compound forms of aluminium
are far from uniform, and include mica, field
spar, porphyry, ruby, sapphire, garnet, tur-
quoise, beauxite and cryolite. The last two
compounds are commonly those used for ex-
tracing the pure metal. But in America cor
undum, which is found in North Carolina, is
and probably will be the main source Of
supply.
OF course the general reader, whatever his
interest in this remarkable substance, viii
not understand the chemical processes of ex-
traction 1t is far more interesting Ito learn
as much as possible of its physical properties.
Its color is beautiful silvery white with
very slight blush tint. When cut it resembles
a piece Of tin freshly cut. 1t is odorless and
tasteless when absolutely pure 1t is fully as
malleable as gold and silver, and can be beaten
into leaves that can be used as silver and gold
leaf are; they are, however, far more durable
1t can be drawn out into exceedingly fine
wire. Its elasticity is that of silver, and its
tenacity the same, but by hammering it be-
comes as hard as iron and as elastic. \ bar
three feet long and quarter of an inch
square. subjected TO tests, was found to have
tensile strength of twelve tons to the square
inch. Taking its strength in relation to its
weight, it compares with steel of thirty-five
tons per square inch tensile strength.
OTHER PROPERTIES.
Aluminium is also remarkably sonorous;
so that when bar in suspension is struck it
gives a sound of crystal bell. 1t melts al
temperature higher than zinc and lower than
silver, and is therefore to be ranked as easily
fusible. At any temperature whatever it re-
mains fixed that is, it loses none of its weight
1t conducts electricity with great facility
eight times better than iron and twice better
than copper. 1t also ranks very high, better
than copper and silver, as a conductor of
heat. These facts suggest the possible and
prabable value of aluminium in the age of
electricity-its value in connection with our
new motor.
But still more remarkable are the proper
ties of this metal in resisting corrosion. The |
air has no effect on it whatever, whether |
moist or dry; neither have sulphur fumes |
Nor does pure oxygen affect it, whether cold |
or hot, although if brought into white heat |
it burns, producing a strong light. Neither |
has water power to corrode it at any ordi- |
nary heat, but at 100 deg. it slowly decom- |
poses the water. 1t is equally true that such |
destructive gases as sulphuretted hydrogen |
do not affect it; and the acids, such as sui |
phuric and nitric, do not affect aluminium to |
any perceptible degree, and hydrochloric acid |
acts very slowly on the pure metal. This |
is why it was used for the peak of the Wash |
ington monument, being mcorrodible prac-
tically where other metals would be eaten up |
by the atmosphere and rains
CoRRoDED BY ALKALIES.
But alkalies, on the contrary as potash, |
soda and lime, act on aluminium very easily, !
driving off the hydrogen and leaving a cal |
cium or other conlpond. So, also, chlorine,
iodine, bromine and fuorine attack the metal |
at once and break it up rapidly. Its power
to resist acids makes it exceedingly useful in |
diseases where tubes Of metal must be used |
since sweat and purulent matter cannot
alter it.
Such is the nature Of this metal of the
future, sketched as well as may be without |
introducing technical language. The world
contains thousand times as much of it as it
does of IRON Its strength surpasses both iron
and steel. while it is almost absolutely incor-
robbie. Glass, acids, air and water do not
tarnish it; nor does heat change its weight or
color. 1t is the best known conductor of
heat and electricity 1t is lighter than some
of our hardest woods, and is worked with
great ease. In the words of a leading scien-
fist: 1T is the highest, easiest worked,
strongest, most durable and generally most
of all metals; and the man who in
vents method Of making 1t cheaply viii re
volutionize industry It is rot easy to
imagine the universal and sweeping influence
of the introduction of two such metals as
aluminium and malleable glass into our in
dustrial economy in q single generation
Iraba- Derr7of,rat